Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. Eyes on Building World’s Largest MMA Plant in Geismar

The Japanese giant Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) is evaluating the feasibility of construction of a USD 1 billion Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) plant in Geismar, Louisiana. The 350,000 mt/year MMA manufacturing complex would employ the firm’s Alpha technology, which derives MMA from ethylene, methanol, and carbon monoxide.

The company has strategically chosen Louisiana as its manufacturing hub, taking into consideration the easy access to Ethylene feedstock and smooth logistics flow using the Mississippi River. The plant would be installed on a 67-acre greenfield site which the company has acquired from the synthetic rubber manufacturer Lion Elastomers. As per the governor of the state, Mr. John Bel Edwards, the plant’s construction would create around 125 new direct jobs with an average salary of USD 100,000 per annum, exclusive of other benefits. Methyl Methacrylate is the key feedstock for Acrylic-based polymers. MMA is widely used in exterior paints, adhesives, safety glazes, light displays, flat-screen monitors, building panels, clear acrylic sheets used as barriers in retail and manufacturing environments for safeguarding against virus. The products of MMA possess desirable qualities such as strength, durability, transparency, and scratch and abrasion resistance. The proposed Geismar plant is slated to start commercial operations in 2025 and it would be the largest MMA manufacturing unit in the world. 

As per ChemAnalyst,” Through this billion-dollar project, MCC is envisioning to strengthen its global leadership in the MMA merchant market. Mitsubishi ranks among top ten US chemical exporters, as of 2019. The company’s far-sightedness is likely to serve well towards making it a leading chemicals firm across the globe.”